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Monday, November 22, 2010

Recently I've told you about my Ficus Wiandi bonsai. Today I would like to share with you my Ficus Propagating projects.

Two month ago I got several cuttings when I shortened the Ficus Wiandi branches off (Ficus plants can be propagated from stem cuttings or air-layering - read about my Bay Laurel air-layering project).

I was happy that the branch has been rooted and yesterday I planted one rooted cutting in a Chinese Mudman ceramic pot and I decorated the tray with blue decorative sand.

Based on my successful experiment, I decided to cut another branches from my Ficus Wiandi plants. The new cuttings are about 10-15 cm in length and few millimeters thick.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" Confucius

I've planted each branch /cutting in its own starter pot made out of terracotta (only 3 cm high). I filled up the pots with perlite and I inserted the bare end of the stem sprinkled with some rooting hormone into these very small pots . The cuttings have multiple branches and I would have to reduce them to 1 or 2 leaves, but they are looking sooo cool with their side branches, so... although I have not cut their leaves (yet ?!) , I hope to have success with my new plants.

"The first step, my son, which one makes in the world, is the one on which depends the rest of our days" Voltaire

I have put the pots and cuttings inside of tight sealed, clear plastic bags - to keep the moisture in the inorganic "soil" and around the leaves. I placed them in a location where it gets lots of very bright but indirect light. I am currently waiting for the cuttings to root.

"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into visible" Anthony Robbins

A newly plants will drop some leaves... but only because they are adjusting to the new environment so there is no need to worry about it.
Tips about watering routines during rooting period: Brown leaf tips / falling leaves indicate under-watering while yellow tips indicate over-watering.

Here is my plan:
I'll leave them for 4-6 weeks and once a week I'll open the bag to water and to allow some fresh air in. After these weeks of patience I'll open gradually and remove the plastic bags - by then the cuttings should have roots and be able to survive on their owns. My small Ficus Wiandi plants have just taken the first step ...

"Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break the big plan into small steps and take the first step right away." Indira Gandhi

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